Theres 2 sides to this story. One side says to lube your chain alot in hopes of prolonging it's life. The other side says that lube only collects dirt which grinds on the chain/sprockets.

I always lube my chain. My quad is 1.5 years old and the chain and sprockets are looking a little shabby. My friend has a 99' 400 ex, He never lubes his chain and it still looks good.
My riding is desert with lots of dust and dirt to stick to the chain/sprockets.

Whats the scoop.

 

What do you mean by LUBE??? An O-ring chain is permanently greased internally at the factory, and the O-rings are there to hold the grease inside the links. I use only CHAIN WAX. This really isn't a "lube" in the classic sense. BEING DRY, IT DOESN'T ATTRACT DIRT like an oil based "lube". The purpose of the wax is to keep the O-rings supple (so they don't crack and lose the internal grease). It has the added benefit of preventing chain rust, and providing some librication externally between the sprockets and the chain.

Using an oil based "lube" (especially here in the desert!!) is folly!! The dirt just sticks to it, and forms a GRINDING PASTE. This will rapidly destroy your O-rings, and cause the loss of the chains internal grease. Plus, it will grind down your sprockets. Leave the oily stuff for the MX dirt bike riders who don't have O-ring chains.

 

I agree with reconranger.

I found a product that works good for me. I still have a can of chain wax from a few years back but I switched to Honda's HP chain lube (red can) which does the same thing as chain wax but I like it better and it keeps the chain from rusting. I use it also on my non O-ring KDX200 and it seems to do a good job there too.

Chet

 

I have been using WD-40 on my o-rings chains for over 10 years and have never had a problem. It will keep the o-ring lubed and stop the rust on the chain. After the quad is washed, I spray all of the moving places to get rid of the water after washing.

 

What bothers me about WD-40 is that it is so light, I can imagine it getting past the O-rings and into the grease where it will destroy its lubrication properties????? Plus, it evaporates so fast.

 

Dangit! Iv'e been buying O-ring chain lube. Sounds like a way for the dealers to sell new chains and sprokets. When I replace them next time I'm gonna just run it and see how long it lasts.

 

if you feel you have to "lube" their is a product called "Super lube", its a spray on teflon coating(clear) drys to the touch.

 

I thought WD-40 destroyed the O-rings in a chain!!!!!!

 

I dont think so. The chain people as well as the bike makers tell you to soak a chain in kerosene to clean it. Wd-40 is mostly kerosene.

 

Depends on what conditions you ride in. I had a '96 Trail Boss with o-ring chain. I never lubed and never adjusted it in the four years I owned it. This machine never saw mud or water.
I now own a '99 Scrambler 500 4x4. I run it through everything and I believe lube is nessasary when riding in mud. After washing I lube the chain real well to keep it from rusting. One time I just dumped it off in the shed after mudding and the next week, I could hardly push the machine because the chain was nearly seized. Some lube freed it up and it's ok now. I use old engine oil for lube.